Don’t Push Pause

Episode 18 : The Ice Storm

We close out November with one of the best dramatic films to come out of the 90s, Ang Lee’s The Ice Storm (1997). It’s a simple story, but how this Rick Moody novel was adapted into a movie perfectly embodies American families going through transition. Although it was highly praised by critics and viewers alike, this movie often slips by the radar. Lee takes human realness, struggling with the mundane, familial claustrophobia and sexual repression, then wraps it into a story that feels familiar. Perhaps, it may even hit too close to home for some.

▶️ Set around Thanksgiving in 1973, The Ice Storm explores the inner disconnection existing in two neighboring families, and also how they are individually (and secretly) involved with one another. We’ll discuss how the film looks at human desires and what happens when we suppress our feelings or decide to act on impulses. The themes of this film run deep, focusing on the political climate of the decade, the inability for parents and children to relate, subdued emotions, adulterous escapades and the sexual exploration parallel existing from adolescence to adulthood. We also go into how the ending of the film was an extremely bold move, along with how the all-star cast greatly assists in bringing this relatable story to life.

▶️ Picks of the Week focus on other films by Sigourney Weaver. Justin opted for 1993’s Dave, which not only stars Weaver, but also Kline of The Ice Storm. The Ivan Reitman film is about what happens when a presidential impersonator assumes the place of the real Commander-in-Chief. Lindsay chose Weaver’s gut-wrenching Gorillas in the Mist (1988), a biopic about the passionate primatologist and conservationist, Dian Fossey — her life’s mission, work with gorillas and untimely murder.

▶️ This week’s MurrayMoment takes us on the journey between Weaver and Billy Murray. They’re both very different types of actors, so is it possible they could come together on a grassroots stage drama?

▶️ Though our main feature is set in the 1970s, The Ice Storm is a timeless story. It’s not just a about people experiencing their miserable lives — it’s about realizing what your life has become and what how one chooses to react. The American Dream is over, but the hangover is just beginning.

Episode 17 : Kids

A dark November begins with our most controversial movie yet, Larry Clark’s, Kids (1995). It received an NC-17 rating upon its release, and in the subsequent years, a lot of kids have felt accurately represented on film, while parents are still shocked and the rest of the world feels sucker-punched in the gut. Nineteen-year-old Harmony Korine wrote this film about an unsupervised teenage world full of immediate gratification, curiosity, unbridled vulgarity and never thinking about consequences. Kids was a wake-up call to the world.

▶️ Taking place in a 24-hour time span, Kids follows a teen girl who, after having sex with only one person, discovers she’s been infected with HIV. She spends the rest of the movie trying to track the boy down. In between and intertwined with the main story, the film is a voyeuristic endeavor into teenage lives concerned only with drugs, sex, talkin’ smack and lots of partying. We’ll discuss the issues tackled by the controversial film, emotionally difficult scenes, how Kids sparked the careers for its director, writer, all main actors, including Chloë Sevigny and Rosario Dawson, and why this film is still important over 20 years later.

▶️ Picks of the Week go in different directions this time out. Justin went with a shocking, yet analytical depiction of how a group of teens deal with a murder of a close friend in The River’s Edge (1986). Lindsay takes us to the beginning of the end of a bygone era, filled with transparent friendships and elitist, bourgeoise college grads in The Last Days of Disco (1998).

▶️ Maybe Billy Murray wasn’t a careless, New York club-goin’ skateboarder like the ones in Kids, but he did cause some trouble in his youth. Find out how he once got kicked off a plane and arrested in this week’s MurrayMoment!

▶️ Kids may be jarring and harsh, but its ugliness is effective and meaningful. One can assume the message is only about practicing safe sex, but the honest and impactful generational voice of the film should serve as an eye-opening story that goes deeper. Take a moment to let yourself be submerged into the world of Kids — it’ll be an experience you won’t soon forget. Viewer discretion is advised.

Episode 16 : Fright Night (1985)

Finally, the Halloween episode has arrived! And no other movie better illustrates the scary, fun-loving spirit of the season than Tom Holland’s Fright Night (1985). It’s not just a run-of-the-mill vampire flick... it’s responsible for altering the entire vampy genre, which has been around since the beginning of moviemaking. In the years that preceded Fright Night, many felt the vampire genre had become stale and played out, definitely moving away from being anywhere near terrifying. And in 1985, writer/director Holland changed the vampire genre landscape forever.

▶️ Fright Night skillfully blends horror and comedy, which makes for a supremely fun and entertaining film. When a teen boy-next-door type discovers his charming new neighbor is an enthralling and murderous vampire, how will he ever convince anyone to believe him? We dive into how this film reinvigorated the vampire genre with fresh blood (pun intended) and a different take on vampires, the smartly casted crew of actors, practical special effects vs. digital effects, the hauntingly sexy synth-heavy soundtrack and how a simple idea with a smartly written script can result in brilliance.

▶️ Picks of the Fright Night Week hold strong to the vampire genre. Justin chose Near Dark (1987) with Bill Paxton, an early film by Kathryn Bigelow that departed from typical vampire movies, this time going for more a western-style, action film. Lindsay went for Once Bitten (1985), a Jim Carrey vampire comedy roped into teen sex-comedies of the day more so than the vampire parody realm.

▶️ Who woulda known there was a way to connect Billy to Fright Night’s Roddy McDowall!? Find out how in this week’s MurrayMoment deep cut!

▶️ Fright Night isn’t a tired old vampire yarn and it’s not a slick, teen vampire movie either. Holland’s self-referential, directorial debut means to scare, while making you smile at the same time. It’s a treat for horror fans, and for those non-horrorheads ... You may actually enjoy being frightened this time out!